What Saved The Thief On The Cross?
It wasn’t just faith but good works that saved the thief on the cross.
He didn’t just put his faith in Jesus and pray for Jesus to remember him as many erroneously think. He did much more than that!
Luke 23:39-41 (KJV)
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
This was what the thief said before he told Jesus to remember him. He defended and stood up for Jesus against the other thief while on the cross.
He rebuked him saying, “do you not fear God” because of what he said to Jesus.
Is that not a good work he did for Jesus on the cross?
Remember, this was the loneliest moment in the life of Jesus.
His disciples who He said He would reward with a kingdom because they were there with Him in His temptations, had all forsaken Him and fled, so they weren’t there with Him during the moment of the greatest temptation He ever faced. Luke 22:28-30, Mark 14:50.
Worst still, His Father whose presence Jesus valued more than anything else, of who He once said, had never left Him, had now also forsaken Him.
John 8:29 (KJV)
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Matthew 27:46 (KJV)
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
So this was the same moment on the cross that the thief had risen to the defence of Jesus when He had no one else there to back Him up or bear witness of Him, so was that not a good work the thief on the cross did for Jesus?
It wasn’t just a good work but a great and strategic work, and the thief himself appeared to know that he had done an important work for Jesus, hence the language he used.
He said “Lord remember me…” Luke 23:42 (KJV)
He could have said “Lord save me” or “Lord help me” but he said “Lord remember me”.
It reminds me of what Joseph said to the cup bearer of Pharoah after he interpreted his dream.
There has to be something to be remembered for, and for the thief it was the great thing he did for Jesus on the cross.
He was there for Jesus in His most trying moment when no one else was, hence Jesus who didn’t respond to the request of the other sinner to also save him, didn’t hesitate but instantly granted his request.
Luke 23:43 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
So the thief didn’t just believe or have faith in Jesus to save him, he did a good work for Jesus on the cross.
God bless
What Saved The Thief On The Cross? – Religion – Nigeria (nairaland.com)